"Monday, April 5, 1909 In the laboratory in the morning, continued working on a herbarium shipment; in the afternoon, paperwork. – I came into possession of a very beautifully carved club, studded all around with brass nails. (= 1 Rupee 50) The carving patterns are the same as those generally found on the local N* [1] objects, mainly on the ""Lewa items."" New to me were the wave patterns and arches at the top. The animal depicted is a monitor lizard (Kenge [?]), which is commonly found in the steppe. The handle is sheathed at the bottom in silver or some other white metal. The piece is old, dark brown, and smells strongly of the fat that the Maasai rub on their belongings. In any case, unusual care was taken in its manufacture. [Drawing with dimensions] 36 cm, 20 cm. Kofia mbaja, our horse Maasai, from whom I acquired the piece, claims it is a sultan's scepter of the Maasai and says it is called es sēre. The word does appear in Merker, Die Masai, Berlin 1904, p. 130, but no illustration of a similar staff is included. I suspect that if Merker had ever seen such a piece, he would have illustrated it. This leads me to consider the possibility that the piece, although I bought it from a Maasai, may perhaps have a different origin." [translation] [1] The N-word (N*) is a highly racist term used to refer to Black people. The term originated in the context of ""racial"" theories and is closely linked to the history of slavery and colonialism. In the transcription of original sources, it has not been reproduced but instead marked as a racist, derogatory, and offensive term."

source: Museum der Kulturen Basel, VI 56197, 53 (44)
author: Karl Braun

"123. Club, or sultan's sceptre of the Masai = sere / richly carved & with brass nails & white metal fittings / Amani 5 April 1909. / TB [diary] 53,44 (exact drawing!) / 1 Rp 50. / [Drawing]" [translation]

source: Museen Stade, r 2018 / 18566
author: Karl Braun

In 1934, the former director of the Biological Imperial Institute for Agriculture and Forestry (Biologische Reichsanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft) Karl Braun (1870–1935) gave the so-called “Kolonialsammlung Braun” (Colonial Collection Braun) to the Hanseatic City of Stade, or rather its representative, the then mayor Hans Arthur Meyer (1884–1961). See the file „Transfer of a colonial collection from the senior government councillor Professor Dr. Karl Braun in Stade to the City of Stade” („Überlassung einer Kolonialsammlung vom Oberregierungsrat Professor Dr. Karl Braun in Stade an die Stadt Stade") at the Lower Saxony State Archives Stade (Niedersächsischen Landesarchiv Standort Stade).

source: Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv Standort Stade, Dep. 10 Nr. 03025

In 1997, the then city archivist Jürgen Bohmbach concludes a permanent loan agreement with the Museum Society Stade (Museumsverein Stade e.V.), for which the then director Gerd Mettjes signs. Thereafter, the collection from Karl Braun is transferred to the care of the Museum Society Stade (Museumsverein Stade e.V.).

source: Museen Stade, Vereinbarung Leihgabe "Brauns'sche Kolonialsammlung"

I: Okay, now let's finish up with the last picture that is registered with the number 2018_18318_1, Mr. [anonymous] and [anonymous], what is this? R1: This is a ‘rungu’ (club). I: It is a club? R1: Yes, but this one is made more for business, it is not like the local club we are carrying going to the forest, this one was made for business. I: It is the same ‘Olgumaa’? R1: Yes, ‘Olgumaa’. I: So, are such clubs held by anyone? R1: Yes. I: When I was holding it, I thought it was possibly for the ‘laigwenani’. R1: For the ‘laigwenani’ is white and black, but if he attends to a meeting and found carrying it, he will be asked, ‘who are you to carry this thing’, then the laigwenani will say I have just carried it like a club of decoration, because when a laigwenani is there, no one can touch it. I: Hahahaha. R1: But if I go to the street carrying it and a laigwenani finds you having it more than him, you will be fined, and this is carved special for the ‘laigwenani’. There is a certain tree that is carved special for the laigwenani, the ones we are carrying are made from trees that are not special for the laigwenani, so the special one is carved and given officially if you are a leader. I: Mr. [anonymous], now tell us about a club like this to other age groups — is it like fashion? R1: This one is made for business; don't you see it is decorated? Laigwenani don’t put those decorations. They are looking for a craftsman to carve it well, then the elders are given to hand it to the chosen leader. I: Fine, Olgumaa? R1: Yes, Olgumaa. I: Hahahhaa okay fine, let me take this opportunity to thank Mr. [anonymous] and [anonymous], I think we have discussed a lot of things and time has gone, we had no special preparations and we cannot continue keeping you here, I am very grateful for your participation, and you have given us very important information. R1: Yes. I: Thank you very much. R: All: Thank you too.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 01
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1, R2: Anonymous

I: Okay thanks, now let’s finish up with this picture, is registered with number 2018_18318_1, look at it and you recognized it is a club, what community were they using it? R2: I saw it when I went to Kenya in 2004 to a community called ‘mijikenda’ in Mombasa, this was used by chiefs at that place, when they were given authority and going to a meeting, he used to go with his club to talk about serious issues to the mijikenda community, hence that was a club for leadership. I: What were the mijikenda calling it? R2: I didn't ask for the name, but I just knew it was a club. I: And the club is seen painted with a picture of a lizard, do you know what it meant with that lizard painting? R2: I think they just painted it, this is a ruling stick so it must be put with things to guard, this is a lizard and I think even to their taboo this was not touched by everyone, this was for the chief or a person leading the mijikenda community, so I didn’t understand it well but I saw it as ruling stick, and it is put with decorations, they were goldish metals to make it more beautiful. I: So, it is put with some metals? R2: Yes. I: But it is itself made of wood or what is this? R2: This is made of plastic rubber, but there is also a type of tree used to make wood, many of them were black and even this one is black, so it was put for decorations. I: So those metals are for decoration? R2: Yes, for decoration. I: People who were using this were the male chiefs? R2: Yes, the male chiefs. R: Women were not allowed to touch the club, even President Samia is not allowed. I: So, this was also the same as that of laigwanani? R1: For the laigwanani was different. I: Okay fine, now I’m so grateful for your time and I've really benefited because I wouldn't have come to Kimokoa, there are some information I could have missed, we have spent a short time but I have received many information as I have not received them from all those places I have gone through, so I really thank you because I have learned many things from you, and if you are interested too I would like to see if it's not far from here to see the things that are similar to ours, I could see them and also happy to take a photo for memory too, so if you don't mind and not committed you can allow us to go and see them and take photos. R1&2: Okay. I: Thank you very much. R1&2: Welcome.

source: Amani-Stade Project / Massai Field Research 2023 / Interview No. 09
author: I: Mohamed Seif, R1-3: Anonymous